Telstra’s ‘Hello Christmas’ via The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song

Starring a lost reindeer and a girl called Cassie.

Telstra has launched its Hello Christmas campaign, which tells a story about connection starring a lost reindeer and a little girl called Cassie.

In the TVC, Dasher the reindeer journeys through the landscape with rolling hills and bouncing kangaroos before she finds herself lost in suburban Australia. 

Dasher is led to the home of Cassie, a girl who realises the reindeer is lost and sets out to help her find her way home to Santa via the help of her local Telstra payphone.

Created in collaboration with The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song, and directed by Glendyn Ivin at Exit, the film is distinctively Australian.

The music is by Australian band Zefereli, who secured the opportunity to provide the soundtrack with their 2016 ballad ‘Oh Christmas’.

CMO at Telstra, Brent Smart, said the company wanted to rise above the retail noise in the market at this time of year, especially in its category, with a big brand statement for Telstra.

“We created a uniquely Australian Christmas story with a unique role for the Telstra brand. I want to especially pay tribute to The Monkeys for a great piece of work, what a way to go out on the brand,” he said.

The Monkeys chief creative officer, Ant Keogh, said the agency has loved bringing Dasher and this campaign to life.

“And we know Australians will love it as much as we do,” said Keogh.

The TV spot is just one element of Telstra’s fully integrated Hello Christmas campaign which will roll out across the coming weeks.

Credits:

Client: Telstra   

Chief Marketing Officer: Brent Smart   

Head of Creative Excellence: Anna Jackson   

Head of Brand & Network Marketing: Alita McMenamin   

Senior Brand Specialist: Maria Rizzo   

Senior Marketing Specialist: Stephanie Fredericks   

Principle Media Sponsorships, Awards & Experiential: Genelle Sharples   

Robbie Aoukar (senior media specialist)    

Deeptha Chugh (senior media specialist)   

Creative Agency: The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song   

The Monkeys Group CEO & Accenture Song ANZ President: Mark Green   

The Monkeys & Accenture Song Managing Director: Matt Michael  

Chief Creative Officer: Ant Keogh   

National Head of Production: Romanca Mundrea 

Head of Production: Penny Brown   

Chief Client Officer: Belinda Drew   

Managing Director Strategy: Milla McPhee   

Senior Strategist: Brona Kilkelly   

Creative Director: Hugh Gurney   

Creative Director: Connor Beaver   

Art Director: Emmalie Narathipakorn  

Senior Designer: Stephen Leupen  

Group Business Director: Amanda Porritt   

Senior Business Director: Alex Austin   

Business Executive: Georgia Wong   

Senior Broadcast Producer: Jade Rodriguez   

Senior Integrated Producer: Henry Welch   

Production Company – Exit Films   

Director – Glendyn Ivin   

EP – Leah Churchill Brown   

Producer – Alice Grant   

DOP – Germaine McMicking   

Offline Edit – The Editors   

EP – Nicoletta Rousianos   

Producer – Charlotte Griffiths   

Casting – Nick Hammond Casting   

Editor – Shannon Michaelas   

Post Production – ALT VFX   

VFX Supervisor – Dave Edwards   

Producer – Martina Joison   

Music – “Oh Christmas” Zeffirelli   

Audio Post – SqueakE Clean   

Sound Engineer – Paul Le Couteur 

EP – Ceri Davies  

Photographer – Toby Burrows   

Retouching – Electric Art   

OMD   

Helen Guard (Head of Telstra)   

Ally Chin (Business Director)   

Kirsty Harley-Miers (Account Director)   

Nathan Jereb (Account Manager)   

Anna Rudd (Group Investment Director)   ­­

Pretty Likhitlersuang (Investment Director)   

Nicole Torossian (Investment Manager)   

Geoffrey Dunlap (Activation Director)   

Eider Ayestaran (Account Director)   

Delaney Lang-Lemckert  (Account Manager)   

Hannah Robertson (Account Director)   

Ruby Niarros (Senior Account Manager)   

Stuart Robinson (Account Manager)